Michael Goralka, MD, FAAP, FACP

About Michael

Michael Goralka, M.D., FAAP, FACP, is an internal medicine/pediatric physician at Roaring Fork Family Practice. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine and completed residencies at Loyola University Medical Center and Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital in Illinois.

Prior to joining Valley View, Dr. Goralka was a provider at Sierra Family Health Center in Carson City, Nevada, a partner at both Internal Medicine Hospital Associates and Capital Medical Associates in Carson City. He moved to Colorado in 2007 and developed the Hospitalist Program at Aspen Valley Health, serving as the first full-time hospitalist.

Dr. Goralka is a strong advocate for treating patients of all ages as individuals. “Each patient is an individual in different situations,” he says. “I feel strongly about shared decision making. I know each patient has their own values. I try to treat each patient individually based on their goals and values.”

When working with patients, Dr. Goralka prioritizes knowing and understanding his patients. “Patients need to have a comfort level with their physicians,” he says. “They should choose a provider they can open up to because small details make a difference in diagnosing and treating them.” Some of Dr. Goralka’s interests as a provider include high-altitude illness, newborns and medically challenged pediatric patients.

Currently Dr. Goralka is a clinical instructor for the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado and a fellow of American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Society of Hospital Medicine. In addition, Dr. Goralka was honored with the Peak Perform Award by the Rocky Mountain Hospital Medicine Symposium, the Circle of Excellence Award at the Carson-Tahoe Regional Medical Center and was the recipient of the National Health Service Corps Scholarship during medical school.

Originally from California’s Bay Area, Dr. Goralka has lived in the Roaring Fork Valley since 2007. Outside of work, he enjoys skiing, trail running and time spent with his wonderful wife and three adult children.